Valve



June 2, 1942. F. H. MIUELLE'R VALVE l Filed oct. 51, 1940 Y Frank I2C MueZZer Patented Pune 2, #3

v be made.

. the valve being shown in axial section;

` ofFigure 1`; i. l

Figure 4 is a partial section like that of Figure' 1 but showing the valve plug in closedp'o'sition;

UNITED STATES PATE 'ori-v VALVE Frank H. Mueller, Decatur, assigner to Mueli ler Co., Decatur, Ill., 4a corporation of illinois Application october 31, 1940, serial No. scam '1 claims. '-(cl. 251-103) A This invention relates ,to valves and in particular to valves in the natureA of curb stops equipped with rotary plugs, this Vapplication being a .continuation-impart of my prior application serial No. 339,367, med June '1,- 1940. An object of the invention is to produce a tight-sealing yet easily operated valve. A further object is to pro- .Y

vide a valve wherein the metal plug is krubberencased in a manner to protect it completely againstiluid'actlon in normal use. Other objects are to provide for-drainage of fluid beyondthe valve when the valve is closed,.and to provide'for easy assembly of the valve in manufacture. The

`features whereby these and other objects are obtained may in some cases be employed separately although preferably conjointly as inthe embodiment shown by way` of example in the accompanyingdrawing to In the drawing:

Figure 1 is'anaxial section of a valve according to the invention, the plug being shown in open position? A Figure/Z is an elevation of the valve as seen from the right of Figure 1, the upper portion of Figure 3 is a section substantially on Figure 9 is ra segmental view of another form of ilexible sealing lip.

Referring to the drawing, referencenumeral l designates generally a casing in which is formed an upwardly tapered'conical seat Il. An inlet port I2 and an-outlet port I3, diametrically opposite 'and co'axial, are in communication with the chamber defined by the seat and outwardly run into coupling portions Hand 1,5 of'any desired form. i

Upwardly the seat Il terminates at la shoulder i6 beyond which is an internally threaded neck ll. At vthe lower end of the seat is an externally threaded neck i8 on which is threaded a closure cap i9.

The valve plug comprises a metal core proline 3--35 which reference ,will nowvided .with a diametrical flow passage 2l which in the relation'. shown inl Figure 1 connects ports I2 and I3, whereas in Figure 4 the plug, being at 90 from the position in Figure l, prevents flow. At its large end'the cere is provided with an axial recess 23 of non-round section, here shown as square, 'Figure 6.v At its small end the core is provided with an annular depression 24 and 'adjacent itslower end with an axially e'xtending depressioni, Figures 4 and 6.

The core is provided with a sheathing or-covering 26 of rubber which is complete up to the top of the depression-2t, this covering being molded and vulcanized to the core to provide an integral envelopment. From Figure 1 it will be observed that the sides of the core are covered from the bottom up to the top of the depression 24, the bottom, including -the recess 23, is completely covered, and the passage 2l is completely lined, all in the absence of any discontinuity whatever.

f As here shown the metal core, up to the depression 24, has the .same conicity as the seat il and the rubber covering is of uniform thickness so that this conicity is preserved. However, lt-is to be understood that'it is only essential that the outer surfaces of the covering have the proper conlcity for mating with the seat Il and that the core can be differently shaped.

At the upper end of the depression 24 the sheathing is continued in a flexible circumferential flange 21 whichvin original form projects freely radially as shown in Figure 7, the lower margin being beveled at 28 to provide a thin outer edge 29. When in assembly the plug isv pushed 4into the seat, the flange 2l is folded over to the positionV shownin Figure 1 so .that a cupped relation is assumed with the iiange now in' the form of a skirt, due to .its resiliency bearing against the seat li. It will be evident that uid `underpressure rising between the plug and seat .will force the skirt outwardly against the seat to enhance the seal.

The rubber covering follows the depression 26 so t hat an annular recess is provided for the normal reception of the skirt. Consequently the latter cannot interfere with the proper seating of the plug. l 1

In Figures 4 and 5 it willbe seen that the covering 26 vsets into the depression 25 so that a longitudinally extending blind groove 30 is provided.

Slidably received in the recess 23 is the'square j upper end of a block 3l, here shown as being in the form of an upwardly open cup. The lowerV round end of the block 3| is received in a thrust and journal bearing 32 of cap it. A compression spring 33 received in the cavity of the block 3i bears downwardly against the bottom wall of the latter and upwardly against a washer 34 so that the plug i's pressed upwardly against its seat although it may move downwardly a substantial distance toward the block 3l due to the normal spacing'of the upper end of the latter below the washer 34. The block has an integral radial arm- 35 whose extremity cooperates with stops 36 and 31 on the interior of neck I8 seas:V

to limit the turning movement of the plug to 90. When stop $1 is engaged the plug is in fully open position whereas when stop 36 is engaged the plug passage is perpendicular to the axis of ports i2y and l3.- Y i The action of the spring 33 need not be especially strong since I rely principally on fluid 'the lower end 'of the groove 30 registers when the plug is in on position, the upper end of the groove then communicating with the outlet I3, Figure 4.

The plug core has at its small end a cylindrical collar 4I provided with diametrically opposite recesses orv notches 42 and 41 of identical and'- symmetrical form. Referring particularly to Figure 2A, the recess 43 hasopposite axially extending wall portions 44 and 45 and downwardly inclined wall portions 46 and 41.

An operator member 48 has a boss portion 49 overlying the collar, the flange being surmounted by a circular boss portion Il. A T head 52 extends upwardly from portion I and includes a stem portion 53 and a cross portion which includes the end portions 54 and 55. The operator member is held in position by means of a ring 56 threaded in .-the neck i1. and having an inwardly directed 'flange 51 embracing boss portion received in the collar 4| and a circular flange 5t sembly of the parts. It should be mentioned that.

flange 50. At diametrically opposite points the A operator member has lugs 58, and 59 beneath flange and received respectively in the notches 42 and 4I. The lower ends -of these lugs are held in adjacencywith .the inclined bottom walls of the notches by the ij'iange 5l of ring 56 but there is some .clearance in order that under 'all circumstances the plug can seat fully without interference. v

If the operator member 48 is turned in a clockwise direction as seen from the top, Figures l and 2, the lug Bitwill engage the cam surface 48 of recess 43 and the lug-58 will similarly engage a cam surface of recess 42.' Consequently the" plug will be moved bodily downwardly so as to be loosened in the seat. The natural resiliency of flange 21 and the fluid preure acting thereon hold the lfree margin or edge of the skirt tightly' against the seat Il so that leakage upwardly is prevented in all relations of the plug to the seat.

When lug engages the wall or stop portion.

of notch 43 depression of the plug will cease and the plug will be rotated to closed position wherein arm 35 strikes stop 38. 'I'he same sequence, i. e.. depression and then rotation of the plug, will occur when the operator is turned in the opposite direction to again open the valve.

In use, when the valve is closed, the rubber rubber-sheathing 62 which in original form is.

:aserrada y bulged moreor less into theoutlet port due to' -fiuidpressure on the inlet side and as a result the plug may be canted somewhat from bottom to top toward the outlet port. Under this condition. when the operatormember is turned in a clockwise direction the lug 5l will come into ensagement with its associated cam surface 4l before the lug il will engage its associated cam surface and asl aresult a righting action will be imparted to the plug. Lug 58 will then engage its respective cam surface and depressionil and rotation ofthe plug will follow.

'Due to this mode of operation it will be evident that danger of damage tothe rubber sheathing will be avoided to a great extent and that the valve is easily operable although the plug is normally very tightly engaged in its seat. Furthermoreallparts of the core which are subject to fluid action are protected against corrosion by the rubber envelope. The uncovered collar portion 4| of lthe core is protected against iluidv operator member except over the T 52, vthe flange 50 preventing assembly 'from the other direction.

I therefore recess the stem 53 at Si beneath the end portion 54 sufiiciently so that by engaging one side of the ring in the recess the ring can be swung over the .end portion te and, by reason of a recess '6I whichterminates downwardly 5| and overlying the margins 'of the circular fthe valve being indicated lby the fact'that flush with the periphery of boss portion 5i, into embracing'A relation with the said boss portion. It'will be appreciated that this is a feature of considerable importance in the economical asthe lugs I8 and il are in the plane of the T head and consequently when the head extends longitudinally of the couplingportions i6 and I5 it is known that the Vvalve is open, closed position of head extends transversely of the line.

.In Figure 9 I have illustrated another method of forming the fiexiblesealing lip or flange at the top of the' plug. In accordance with this figure, the plug 60, provided with an annular recess 8L is covered up to the top of the ylatter with a uninterruptedly conical throughout. An annular groove 83 is then undercut in the solid rubber sheathing portion atV the recess in a manner to provide an annular lip or ilange directed toward the base ofthe plug. 'Upward pressure'of the fluid expands the dange against the seat, as before.

In speaking of a "rubber sheathing for the I plug core I contemplate any-suitable rubber. or rubber-like composition, natural or artificial. I'he sheathing may vary as to'hardness in accordance with requirements and if necessary the flange 21 may be differentially vulcanized in order -that it may be suitably flexible. I, of course, do

not limit myself to the exact details of form and arrangement herein disclosed since the invenf tion is susceptible of varied embodiment within the scope of the following claim.

Ilclaim: Y l. -A valve comprising a body having a seat of circular cross section and opposite inlet and outsheathing, depending lon its hardness, may be. let ports communicating with saidseat, and, a

the

assassin rotary plug cooperating with said seat and having a diametrical ilow passage. said plug being closing relation to said ports, and stop means limiting the closing movement of said plug and assuring the register of said groove with said duct when the plug is in fully closed p'osition. said plug comprising a metal core and a sheathing of rubber on said core, said core having ya depression into which said sheathing isset to form said groove.

3. A valve comprising a casing providing a 'conical seat and inlet and outlet ports communicating vwith said seat, a rotary conical plug cooperating with said seat and 'having a transverse passage adapted to connect said ports, said casing having a'portion deilning a chamber in conjunction with the large end` of said core. a passage connecting said chamber and said inlet port whereby nuid pressure is enabled to enter said chamber to seat said plug, said plug includingy a Vrubber sheathing provided with a blind axially extending groove, rand a duct extending downwardly between said seat and the exterior oi the casing independently of said chamber, said groove connecting said outlet port and duct when said Vplug is in lclosing relation to lsaid ports.

4. A valve comprising Va casing having apassageway for line fluid. a tapered seat intersecting said passageway. a tapered rotary plug cooperative with said seat to control ilow through said passageway, said plug including a metal core having a rubber covering thereon adapted to form a to the seat.-

seal between the plug and seat, means for axially displacing and turning said plug, and a flexible ilange integral with said covering at the small end of the plug and lforming a sealbetween the plug'and seat in all axial relations of the plug 5. A valve comprising a casing having a passagewayv for the line iluid, a tapered seat intersecting said passageway, a tapered rotary plug cooperative with said seat to control ilow through said passageway, said plug including a metal core having a rubber covering thereon adapted to form a seal between the plus and seat, and means for axially displacing and turning said plug, said rubber covering being circumferentially depressed at the small end of the plug and being continued in a flexibleange which is folded back into the depression and forms-a seal between the plug and seat in all axial relations o l the plug to the seat.

6. A valve comprising a casing having a passageway for the line fluidI a tapered seat intersecting saidpassageway, a tapered rotary plug cooperative with said seat to control flow through said passageway. said plug including a metal core having a rubber covering thereon adapted to form a seal between the plug and seat, .and means for' axially displacing and turning said plug, said covering being provided with an undercut groove at the small end of the plug whereby to provide a'ilexible flange portion directed toward the large end of the. core and forming a seal between the plug and seat inall axial relations oi the plug to the seat..

7. A valve comprising a casing having a passageway for line iiuid, a tapered seat intersecting said passageway, a tapered rotary plug coopera-` 

